Tramway loading device.



G. A. CASE. TRAMWAY LOADING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10.1907. 91 0,499

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

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G. A. CASE. TBAMWAY LOADING DEVICE. APPLIOATIOI nun APR.10.1907.

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Patented Jan. 26. 1909. y 'l SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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G. A. CASE. TRAMWAY LOADING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED APR.10.1907.

91 0,499. Patented Jan. 2 1909. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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- APPLICATION FILED APR.10.1907. 91 0,499.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

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U. A. CASE. TRAMWAY LOADING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR-10.1907.

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UNITE STATES PATENT nrica.

CHARLES A. CASE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CASE TUNNEL & ENGINEERING COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA TERRITORY.

TRAMWAY LOADING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1909.

Application filed April 10, 1907. Serial No. 367,369.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. OAsn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tramway Loading Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aerial tramway loading devices. Its organizationcomprises a movable loading hopper having means for automatically locking itself with a moving bucket and the like. The loading hopper also has means for opening and closing a discharging gate connected therewith, while it is locked with the bucket, and means to un lock itself from one bucket and return to its original position to engage another bucket.

Referring to the drawings which exemplify the invention, Figure 1 represents an end view of the loading hopper with a bucket and trolley, Fig. 2 shows a partial section of Fig. 1 on the line 2, 2, Fig. 3 shows a partial lefthand side view of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a partial right-hand side view of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 represents a detail elevation of a movable shaft, Fig. 6 is a top view of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a righthand end view of Fig. 5, Fig. 8 shows a top view of Fig. 1, Fig. 9 represents an enlarged portion of Fig. 3, Fig. 10 shows an end view of Fig. 9, Fig. 11 represents an end view of the invention in a loading station, Fig. 12 shows a left-hand side view of Fig. 1 1, Fig. 13 is a plan view and partial section of Fig. 12 on the line 13,13.

A track 30 supports the rollers 31 of a trolley 32, from which is suspended the frame 33 that carries the bucket 34. The said bucket is connected by means of grips 35 to a hauling rope 36. The grips are the subject-matter of an application for Letters Patent executed March 30, 1907, and will not be described herein. To the bucket 34 is j ournaled a locking roller 37.

Tracks 40, 41 support the wheels 42 of the loading hopper 43 having the sides 44 and 45. The wheels 42 are journaled on journal pins 46, that are fastened to the brackets 47, 48 and 49. The brackets 48, 49 are connected by the cross-bracket 50. A guard rail 51 is secured over the track 41. A rope clamp 52 secures the weight box rope 53 with the crossbracket 50 of the loading hopper 43.

A pair of journal brackets 54 extend from.

the sides of the loading hopper 43, and a square shaft 55 which is turned cylindrical near its ends is fulcrumed in the said brackets 54. An arm 56 extends from the shaft 55, which has pinned therewith the link 62, that in turn is pinned to the arms 57 on the pin 58. The arms 57 are fulcrumed on the pin 59 supported on a bracket 60 extending from the side 44 of the loading hopper 43. The pin 58 also carries the links 61. A bell-crank with arms 65, 66 is fulcrumed to the side of the hopper on the pin 67, the arm being pinned to the links 61 with the pin 68, while to the arm 66 is pinned the link 69. A bell-crank with the arms 70, 71 is fulcrumed in the bracket 72, the arm 70 of the bell-crank being pinned to the link 69 with the pin 73, and to the end of the arm 71 is journaled a roller 74. To the square shaft 55 is fastened the gate 75 and said shaft 55 carries an arm with the counter-weight 81.

With the brackets 47 are formed journal bearings 82 for the axially movable and partially rotary shaft 83, which has near its ends the collars 84, 85, the arm 86 with the roller 87, and the latch arms 88, 89, in about its central portion. The latter arm is capable of swinging on said movable shaft between the collars 90. The arm 89 has connected therewith the counterweight 95 and a horizontal pin 92 which can bear against the arm 88. A spring 93 is carried on the shaft 83 and bears between one of the bearings 82 and the arm 88.

A bracket 100 extends from the side 45 of the hopper 43, in which is journaled on a pin 101 a bell-crank with thearms 102, 103. A forked end 104 of the arm 102 carries rollers 105 that are engaged between the collars of the movable shaft 83. The arm 103 is pinned to the link 106 which in turn is pinned to the latch 107, the latter being fulcrumed on a pin 108 extending from one of the brackets 47. A pin 109 extends from the track 40 to engage the latch 107.

To the side 44 of the hopper 43 is pinned the trip lever 112, on the pin 113. To one end of the lever 112 is journaled the roller 114, which can bear against the arm 66. On the other end of the said lever 112 is carried a pin 115 which latter supports the link 116. A bracket 117 extends from the side 44 of the hopper and carries a pin 118 on which is fulcrumed a bell-crank with the arms 119 and 120. The arm 1 19 is pinned to the link 116 by the pin 121. The arm 120 has formed therewith the fork 122 which carries rollers 123 that are straddled by the collars 84 on the movable shaft 83.

Referring particularly to Figs. 11 to 13 the invention is shown with the framing of a loading station. In the said station is journaled a return wheel 130 for the hauling rope 36.

Guide sheaves 131 for the rope 36 are jour naled on the flooring 132. Above and in line with the rope 36 in said station is supported the track 30 which is formed to follow the direction of said rope 36 in the station. Track ropes 133' join with the track 30 at the shoes 134. Tracks 40 and 41 are supported in the station on a level between the track 30 and the hauling rope 36. Between the tracks 40 and 41 are located the wedges 141 and 142 to engage the rollers 74 and 87 respectively. A weight box rope 53 of the loading hopper is fastened to the cross sill 135, leads under the sheave 136, extends to the sheave 137 and from thence turns around the sheave 138, and leads to and is fastened to the loading hopper 43 by means of the clamp 52 as already stated. The rope 53' then passes around the sheave 139, thence around the sheave 140 from which it again turns around the sheave 136 and'finally leads to and is fastened' to the cross sill 141. The sheave 136 is supported and can roll on the timber or track 145. It has an axle 146 which carries the links 147 at the lower ends of which latter is pinned one end of. the triangular weight box 148. The other end of the weight box has extending therefrom journal brackets 149 that are supported on the pin 150 supported on the vertical timbers 151. In the, framing of the station is built a bin 160'which may have a number of partitions. Chutes 161 with gates 162 extend from the said bin.

To operate the invention the bin 160 is filled with ore or any other material to be handled, and by means of the clamp 52 the loading hopper 43 is clamped in proper position to operate with any of the chutes 161. When the loading hopper is opposite the chute from which the material is drawn to fill the said hopper, the sheave 136 is a little to the left of its normal osition, and the wei ht box is raised somew iat as shown particu arly in Fig. 12; In this position the roller 37 of the bucket 34 strikes the arm 89 of the movable shaft 83, and turns it up out of the way- The roller 37 next strikes the arm 88 compressing the s ring 93 and the arm 89 falls in place behin the said roller 37, looking the roller 37 of the bucket in place. During this operation the loading hopper is propelled. with the buckets in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 12, and at the same time the weight box 148 lowers, pulling the sheave 136 in a direction opposite to the arrows shown in Fig. 12. This action of the weight box and the rolling of the sheave 136 causes the rope 53 to pull the loading hopper in the same direction as the direction of the movement caused by the bucket 34. This additional pull caused by the weight box prevents excessive jar. When the roller 37 on the bucket locks itself with the loading hopper 43, the spring 93 assists in cushioning the force of the blow due to the locking. As the roller 37 im inges against the arm 88 the latch 107 is unlbcked from the pin 109, the spring 93 cushioning the first effect of the locking of the loading hopper and the bucket- During the same time that the latch 107 is unlocked, the movable shaft 83 by actuating the bell crank with the arms 1'19 and 120 drops'the gate to allow a charge of material to enter the bucket from the loading hopper, and remains open while the loading hopper and bucket are connected or locked. After the hopper and bucket have traveled a short distance, the sheave 136 is moved so as to allow the weight. box to descend to its lowest position. As the hopper with the bucket continues to travel in the direction. of the arrow in Fig. 12, the weight box 148 is again raised and the sheave 136 is moved to the ri ht until the roller 87 strikes the wedge 142 when the arm 88 with itsv accompanying arm 89 is pulled clear of the roller 37 of the bucket disconnecting the latter from the loading hopper, allowing the bucket to travel with its pulley rope 36. At thisinstant the weight box lowers and the loading, hopper is pulled back by the rope 53: to its original position opposite its chute. While the loading hop er is traveling back to this position, the roller 74 is engaged with the wedge 141 which causes. the link 69 and its a purtenances to raise the gate 75 to a c osed osition.

Havmg described my invention I claim:

1. The combination of a movable receiving receptacle and'a movable loading hopper, an axially movable and supported on the loading hopper, an arm on sai shaft and means on the receptacle to engage said arm.

2. The combination of a movable receiving rece tacle and a movable loading hopper, an axiaTly movable and partially rotary shaft, su orted on the loading hopper, an arm on salt shaft,means on the receptacle-to engage said arm, a latch on the hopper toclamp it in place and means between said shaft and said latch to unclamp the loading hopper.

3. The combination of a movable receiving receptacle and a movable loading hopper, a shaft supported in bearings on the said hopper, an arm extending from-said shaft located to engage with means on the movable receptacle to connect the latter with the movable loading hopper, a gate in the hopper, means between said movable shaft and the gate to actuate the latter.

4. The combination of an aerial tramway,

-a bucket propelled by a hauling rope of said tramway, a loading hopper supported on tracks adjacent to said tramway, a shaft that can oscillate about and move along its axial line supported on the loading hopper, an arm extending from said shaft, a roller journaled on the bucket in the path of said arm, a second arm extending from said shaft, a wedge located in the path of the second arm to engage therewith and thereby disengage the first arm and the roller on the bucket.

6. In a loading hopper the combination of a shaft slidable along its axial line supported thereon, a bell-crankfulcrumed on the hopper with the arm thereof connected with said shaft, a lever fulcrumed at about its central portion on the hopper, a link extending between one end of said lever and one of the arms of the bell-crank, a swinging gate journaled in the hopper, means connected with the swinging gate located in the path of the swinging lever to operate the said gate.

7. Ina loading hopper the combination of a shaft slidable along its am'alline supported thereon, a bell-crank fulcrumed on the hopper with one arm thereof connected with said shaft, a lever fulcrumed at about its central portion on said hopper, a link extending between one end of said lever and the other arm of said bell-crank, a second bell-crank fulcrumed to the hopper with one arm in the path of the latter lever, a second shaft journaled in the hopper, a gate extending from the second shaft, an arm extending from the second shaft, a link with one end pinned to the arm, a pair of arms pinned to theother end of the latter link, and a link extending between the second bell-crank and pinned to the said pair of arms.

8. In an aerial tramway the combination of a traveling bucket and a movable loading hopper, a movable shaft fulcrumed on the hopper which shaft can oscillate and move along its axial line, tracks for the movable hopper parallel to the aerial tramway, a pin extending from one of the said tracks, a latch connected with the movable shaft in the path of said pin, an arm extending from the shaft in the path of the said bucket to lock it with the loading hopper, a second arm extending from said movable shaft, a wedge in the path of said second arm, a bell crank with one arm thereof engaged by the movable shaft, a

counter weighted gate fulcrumed on the loading hopper, a link pinned to the other arm of the bell crank, a tripping lever fulcrumed to one side of the hopper, and pinned to one end of the latter link, a second bell crank fulcrumed to the side of the hopper, linked connections between the gate and the second bell crank, the second bell crank being located in the path of the tripping lever, a link pinned to one arm of the second bell crank, a third bell crank fulcrumed to the loading hopper, with one arm thereof pinned to the latter link, and a wedge in the path of the other arm of the third bell crank.

9. In a tramway loading station the combination of a traveling bucket and a movable loading hopper, a running rope connected to the bucket, a weight box hinged in the station, a movable sheave on a track in the sta tion, links connecting the axle of the sheave and the swinging end of the weight box, a rope extending from the opposite sides of the loading hopper and each end thereof passing around the said sheave in opposite direc tions, means to lock the bucket and loading hopper when the said sheave has ulled the weight box somewhat up from its owest position, so that the impact caused by the lockin of the bucket and loading hopper will pudl the rope connected with the latter in the same direction of pull as caused by the lowering of the weight box consequent to the movement of the loading hopper.

10. In a tramway loading station the combination of a traveling bucket and a movable loading hopper, means to lock the hopper and bucket together, a running rope connected to the bucket, a weight box hinged in the station, a movable sheave on a track in the station, connections between the axle of the sheave and the swinging end of the weight box, a pair of sheaves in the station on the right hand side of the loading ho per, and a pair of sheaves in the station on t e left hand side of the loading hopper, a ro e extending from the right hand side of the oading hopper leading over the said sheaves on the right hand side and passing around the movable sheave and secured at the right hand side of the station, a rope extending from the left hand side of the loading hopper leading over the said sheaves on the left hand side, then passing around the movable sheave and fastened at the left hand side of the station.

1 1. In a tramway loading station the combination of a traveling bucket and a movable loading hopper, means to lock the hopper and bucket together to move the former, a bin in the station, a chute extending from the bin to charge the loading hopper, a running rope for the bucket, a wedge in the station in the path of the locking means between the loading hopper and bucket to unlock the two latter elements, a rope extending from the opposite side of the loading hopper, a movjble s'heaive in the station the latter lope passing around the movable sheave in opposite directions, a Weight boX hinged in the station, connections between the Weight box and the movable sheave to return the load-' ing hopper'op'posite itsbin= after having been moved therefrom by the bucket, a movable gate in the loading hopper, connections between the said locking means andthe mov- 10 a blegate to open the latter, means to close meat theg'ate, awedgetiiestatibn to engagethe letter" means; V I I Signed at the borough of Manhattan in the county of New York and State of" N eW York this 30th day of March A. D. 1907.

CHARLES A. CASE. Witnesses:

M. COOK, MARTIN ZIMA-NSKY. 

